​Pederson Dominates 2018 Opener at Buffalo River

By Mike Spieker

GLYNDON, Minn. (May 16, 2018) – The 2018 season is off and running for the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The first of a grueling 39-race schedule was held Sunday evening at Buffalo River Race Park. 

A stout field of nine NLSA Lightning Sprints were checked in to battle at the semi-banked quarter-mile clay oval. The heat race win went to Zak Kwiatkowski, who led every lap from the pole position. 

Kelsi Pederson started dead last on the grid and charged her way up to second, while Josh Abrahamson rounded out the top three. 

Pederson and Alex Truscinski made up the front row for the 20-lap main event. At the drop of the green flag, Pederson grabbed the lead over Truscinski and Kwiatkoski. 

Pederson steadily increased her advantage as the race went on, while Kwiatkoski tried to reel in Truscinksi for the runner-up spot. 

As Pederson encountered lapped traffic at the midway point, she was able to maintain her comfortable lead. 

Pederson cruised to the win by just over two-and-a-half seconds over Truscinski. Kwiatkoski, Alan Truscinski, and Josh Abrahamson rounded out the top five. 

The NLSA Lightning Sprints will be back in action this Sunday at Buffalo River Race Park. Green flag drops at 6pm. 

RESULTS:
A Feature 1: 1. 93-Kelsi Pederson, [1]; 2. 10-Alex Truscinski, [2]; 3. 17K-Zachary Kwiatkoski, [4]; 4. 13-Alan Truscinski, [6]; 5. 16-Josh Abrahamson, [5]; 6. 40-Lawrence Veralrud, [3]; 7. 11M-Brendan Mullen, [9]; 8. 100-Jason Berg, [8]; 9. (DNF) 22-Dylan Herman, [7]

Heat 1: 1. 17K-Zachary Kwiatkoski, [1]; 2. 93-Kelsi Pederson, [9]; 3. 16-Josh Abrahamson, [4]; 4. 10-Alex Truscinski, [7]; 5. 40-Lawrence Veralrud, [3]; 6. 13-Alan Truscinski, [5]; 7. 22-Dylan Herman, [8]; 8. (DNF) 100-Jason Berg, [6]; 9. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen, [2]